View full sizeTrue freshman Alphonse Taylor is shown in the spring, before he was moved from the defensive line to the offensive line. (The Birmingham News/Mark Almond)

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- Is Alabama coach Nick Saban planning any position experiments during the preseason?

"Not really, at this point," he said Friday after the Crimson Tide's first practice.

"Where we ended up in the spring, we think once we sort of get a little better picture of some of the young players, especially the new freshmen, the 17 or 18 guys that are here for the first time that weren't here in the spring. ... I think maybe trying to figure out if they're capable of having a role on this team, what is that role?"

In the spring, early enrollee Alphonse Taylor started out as a nose guard but was moved to the offensive line. He is listed as a defensive lineman/offensive lineman on the roster. He will practice Friday night in a session that will feature most of the Crimson Tide's newcomers.

"I feel pretty comfortable with the rest of the players on our team that have been in the program that we have them in the right spots," Saban said.